Mentors announced for Music Futures 2022
Following a successful hybrid/online version of the project last year, working with 20 young people and developing their talents alongside a team of mentors, we’re so excited that Music Futures is underway for 2022!
Music Futures is a free contemporary music project and development opportunity for Wales’s music makers of the future. It enables young people aged 16-18 to grow into the artists that they want to be and supports them to make their mark on the current Welsh music scene.
National Youth Arts Wales are pleased to announce the mentors involved in this year’s Music Futures programme. Ranging in genre and skillset from Grime to Indie, DJing to RnB, we’re proud to be working with a cohort of creatives representing the best of the contemporary music landscape in Wales.
MACE THE GREAT
Mace The Great is an exciting force of Grime and Hip Hop, hailing from Cardiff, Wales. Having won a Triskel Award at the Welsh Music Prize 2020, and garnering the support of the likes of BBC 1Xtra, BBC Wales, ITV, S4C (national TV station for Wales), Cardiff City FC, FOCUS Wales showcase festival and conference, Nominated for Welsh Music Prize 2021, Welsh Ambassador for independent venue week 2022, invited to perform at SXSW 2022 and also part of the MOBO Unsung Class Of 2022. Now primed for a huge 2022, which will see the release of his much anticipated project, following on from the success of his critically acclaimed EP ‘My Side Of The Bridge’, released March 2021 via the MTGM label.
HEMES
With her newly released debut EP, Hemes's single ‘Matters of the Mind’ has landed her on the BBC Radio Wales ‘Welsh A-list'. Her sound encompasses a smooth blend of catchy pop melodies and RnB influences. Born to Arabic parents, her love for music and songwriting derives from being raised around a mix of western and middle eastern music.
TUMI WILLIAMS
Tumi Williams is the front man for the 9-piece monster funk collective Afro Cluster and have written, recorded and tour managed extensively with the group for over a decade. He has performed alongside artists such as Talib Kweli, Chali 2na and The Pharcyde, and a appeared at numerous high-profile festivals and events including SXSW, Glastonbury, Womad, Greenman, and Boomtown.
HELEDD WATKINS
Heledd studied as a theatre maker before moving on to work as a session bass guitarist, touring with Emmy the Great, Chloe Howl and Paper Aeroplanes. She started writing her own music as the front woman of art-rock band, HMS Morris with highlights including, performing at Glastonbury, releasing two albums and gaining two Welsh Music Prize nominations. She is currently working on HMS Morris's third album is sound designing for a theatre show which will be performed in 2023.
DJ DABES
DJ Dabes specializes in big vibes and party anthems and has worked for BBC Radio Wales, Capital FM, Radio Cardiff, Beacons and the WMC's Radio Plattform. When DJ Dabes is not behind the decks he's teaching, presenting radio, producing online content or writing music.
LILY BEAU
Lily Beau moved to London at the age of 16 and secured work experience at Island UK, Universal Music Publishing and Warner Music Group, which subsequently led to a full-time role at Sony Music Publishing as an A&R. Having recently moved back to Wales, she composed and performed a song at the 2021 re-opening of the Senedd for the Queen. Above all else, Lily is elated to be back in her hometown, writing at her piano and can’t wait to share new music.